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7 Cruelty-Free Lipstick Brands That Are Completely Lead-Free

by Suzana Rose

Mar 9, 2021

I've been reading up on lead in lipstick lately and what I've found isn't pretty. It turns out that lead is not only poisonous is large amounts, but also in trace amounts. This is because lead interferes with other molecules in our body such as zinc and calcium, so that these molecules can no longer function normally. I've also learned that exposure to lead in children can result in developmental problems.

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To quote Anne Marie Helmenstine, Biomedical Sciences Ph.D: "There is no minimum safe exposure limit, in part because lead accumulates in the body. There are government regulations regarding 'acceptable' limits for products and pollution, because lead is useful and necessary, but the reality is, any lead is too much lead."

I've accepted that a portion of my lipstick will end up swallowed. It may not be much, but it adds up, and it's gross. I've loved wearing my Vapour Siren Lipsticks, but I've also looked into more options. This lipstick roundup features cruelty-free brands that are not only lead-free, but also free from potentially toxic chemicals.

For my vegan readers, you'll find some vegan options below as well! I've listed all the ingredients. Some lipsticks do contain Carmine or Beeswax.

Is There Lead In Lipstick?

Yes, this is absolutely not a myth. Almost all lipstick contains some amount of lead! The law tolerates it in tiny amounts, be it in the USA, Canada, or the EU.

Choosing natural makeup brands is the only way to ensure that your lipsticks doesn't contain lead.

Here's a graph based on a study by the FDA, showing us the 20 lipsticks that were found to contain the most lead.

lead-study

As you can see, there are some very mainstream brands in there. This even includes Burt's Bees, which claims to be a natural brand!

lead-free-lipsticks

How dangerous is lead?

The reason why trace amounts of lead are permitted by the FDA is because lead is considered safe, as long as it's in very small amounts.

But on the other hand, research shows that lead can be harmful. One of the metals contained in some lipsticks is Cadmium, which is found in breast cancer tissue and has been found to help cancer cells multiply.

The bottom line is that lead in very small amounts is found to be safe, but the safest option is to minimize the lead you're absorbing. Lead isn't even necessary in lipstick, so why not choose a natural lipsticks that's just as good and non-toxic?

Let's move on to the lipstick.

($26)

ILIA

The Brand: The ultimate non-toxic lipstick. Each ILIA product contains over 85% organic ingredients and is formulated to be both high-quality and healthy.

Ingredients

Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil*, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil*, Jojoba (Simmondsia Chinensis) Seed Oil*, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Beeswax (Cera Alba)*, Triisostearyl Citrate, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter*, Manihot Esculenta (Tapioca) Starch *, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Rosa Canina (Rose Hip) Fruit Oil, Sage (Salvia Officinalis) Leaf Extract, Tocopherol. May Contain: Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxide (CI 77499, CI 77492, CI 77491), Red 7 CI15850, Red 28 CI45410, Yellow 5 CI19140.

Where To Buy: 

TheDetoxMarket.com (USA, Canada).
 (USA, Canada)
IAmNatural.com (Australia)


($22)

W3ll People

The Brand: Offering everything from face to lip products, W3ll People focuses on simple products that can sometimes multi-task. Everything is totally free from potentially harsh chemicals and over 80% organic.

Castor Oil*, Cera Alba (Beeswax), Castor Isostearate Beeswax Succinate, Brassica Campestris/Aleurites Fordii Oil Copolymer, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil (and) Aloe Barbadenis (Aloe) Extract, Mica (CI 77019),Tocopherol (Natural Vitamin E), Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) oil, Vanilla flavor, Lysine, Stevia Rebaudiana (Stevia) Extract, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea)*, Roman Anthemis Nobilis (Chamomile)*. May contain: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891),Iron Oxides (CI 77491, 77492, 77499), Manganese Violet (CI 77742).

Where To Buy: 

 (USA, Canada)
TheDetoxMarket.com (USA, Canada)


($28)

Bite Beauty

The Brand: Exclusively available at Sephora, Bite lipsticks use ingredients that are "good enough to eat" as well as antioxidants. No BS. They're natural and organic!

Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil*, Glyceryl Rosinate, Cera Alba (Beeswax)*, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Triisostearyl Citrate, Argania Spinosa (Argan) Kernel Oil*, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil*, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil*, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Cera (Wax), Polymethyl Methacrylate, Hydrogenated Castor Oil*, Flavor (Aroma), Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Wax*, Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax*,Polyglyceryin-3*, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil*, Athemis Noblis (Chamomile) Flower Extract*, Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Butter*, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate), Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract, Silk Powder, Pearl Powder*, Glyceryl Oleate*, Olea Europaea (Olive) Oil Unsaponifiables*, Tocopherol*, Trans-Resveratrol*, Siraitia Grosvenorii (Monk Fruit) Extract*. May Contain: Mica (Cl 77019), Titanium Dioxide (Cl 77891), Iron Oxides (Cl 77491, Cl 77492, Cl 77499), Carmine (Cl 75470), Blue 1 Lake (Cl 42090), Yellow 5 Lake (Cl 19140), Yellow 6 Lake (Cl 15985), Red 40 Lake (Cl 16035), Red 6 Lake (Cl 15850), Red 7 Lake (Cl 15850), Red 33 Lake (Cl 17200), Manganese Violet (Cl 77742)*, Bismuth Oxychloride (Cl 77163), Magnesium Stearate.

Where To Buy: 

 (USA)
Sephora.com (Canada)


vapour

Vapour

The Brand: Vapour Organics Beauty wants to give you glowy skin, the natural way. They use high-quality ingredients and offer everything from dewy foundations to moisturizing lipsticks. These lipsticks contain 70% organic ingredients, and 30% minerals.

Organic Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Organic Cera Alba (Beeswax), Castor Isostearate Beeswax Succinate*, Mica, Organic Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Organic Prunus Domesticus (Plum) & Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Fruit Flavour Oil, Organic Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Seed Oil, Solanum Lycopersicum (Tomato) Fruit/Leaf/Stem Extract, Organic Camelina Sativa Oil, Tocopherol (Natural Vitamin E), Organic Rosa Damascena (Rose) Buds, Organic Melissa Officinalis (Lemon Balm) Leaf Extract, Wildcrafted Commiphora Myrrha (Myrrh) Gum, Stevia Rebaudiana (Stevia) Leaf Extract. May contain: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, 77492, 77499), Carmine (CI 75470), Manganese Violet (CI 77742).

Where To Buy: 

(USA, Canada)


red-apple-lipstick

Red Apple Lipstick

The Brand: RAL is non-toxic, gluten-free, and vegan. They specialize in lipsticks and offer over 42 beautiful shades in various finishes.

Ricinus Communis, Ozokerite, Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Synthetic Bees Wax, Olive (Olea Europea) Oil, Theobroma Grandiflorum (Cupuacu) Seed Butter, Tocopheryl Acetate from an all natural non gluten source, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Aloe Barbadensis leaf Extract. May contain: Titanium Dioxide, Mica, Iron Oxides.

Where To Buy: 

RedAppleLipstick.com (Worldwide)


100pure

100% Pure

The Brand: What makes 100% Pure stand out from the crowd is their use of fruit pigments. They actually extract pigments from berries (or even tomatoes!) and use them to color their makeup. Isn't that the best thing ever?! If that's not natural, I don't know what is.

Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Argania Spinsosa (Argan) Oil, Tocopheryl (Vitamin E), Pigments of Punica Granatum (Pomegranate), Prunus Persica (Peach) Fruit, Prunus Cerasus (Cherry), Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Fruit, Solanum Lycopersicum (Tomato) Fruit/Leaf/Stem and Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa), Origanum Vulgare (Oregano) Leaf, Thymus Vulgaris (Thyme) Flower/Leaf, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark (Cinnamon), Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower/Leaf/Stem, Hydrastis Canadensis (Goldenseal), Oryza Sativa (Rice) Starch, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Essential Oil, Zinc, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract, Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract. May Contain: Iron Oxides.

Where To Buy: 

100PercentPure.com (Worldwide)


nudus

Nudus

The Brand: A full line of lipsticks based in Australia. They use natural and organic ingredients like Kiwi Seed Oil (rich in Vitamins C and E!), Aloe Vera, and Argan Oil.

Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil * , Cera Alba (Beeswax) * , Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Cera * , Tribehenin , Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter * , Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil * , Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil * , Tocopherol (Vitamin E) , Argania Spinosa (Argan) Kernel Oil * , Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Seed Oil * , Cucurbita Pepo (Pumpkin) Seed Oil , Sclerocarya Birrea (Marula) Seed Oil * , Actinidia Chinensis (Kiwi) Seed Oil , Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Seed Oil * , Fragrance * , May Contain -+ Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide) , Mica , May Contain CI 75470 (Carmine) , Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract , Melia Azadirchta Flower Extract , Amino-Esters-1 , Coccinia Indica , Solanum Melongena (Eggplant) Fruit Extract , Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract , Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil , Ocimum Sanctum (Holy Basil) Leaf Extract , Ocimum Basilicum (Basil) Extract , Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract , Corallina Officinalis (Coral Seaweed) Extract , Eclipta Prostrata Extract , Moringa Pterygosperma Oil , Melia Azadirachta Fruit/Seed Extract , Coccinia Indica Flower Extract , Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract.

Where To Buy: 

Nudus.com (Australia)

I hope you've enjoyed this list, and feel free to contribute your own favorite lead-free lipstick brands in the comments!

Have you tried any of these? Which lead-free lipsticks are your faves?

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